Police in Chile stormed the Port of San Antonio last night to allow non-unionised workers to enter the San Antonio International Terminal where strikes have paralysed shipments for more than a week and caused millions of dollars of losses in the fruit industry. Striking workers had earlier erected barricades to prevent special forces from entering the port, according to a report in Soychile.cl.
Julio Castillo, head of the San Antonio Port Workers Front (FTP) said police repression had forced employees at the terminal to go back to work against their will.
This morning, a tense stand off between both sides remained at the port’s southern access route, according to local reports. Castillo said union bosses were deciding whether to extend strike action, paralysing ports from regions I to VIII in response to the police action.
